asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that in a certain case a parent's pension has been issued below the amount of pre-War dependence on the ground that the husband was earning good wages at the time of the deceased son's enlistment; and will he state under what article of the Royal Warrant this has been done?

I am unaware of any case in which a parent's pension has been (or could have been) issued below the amount of pre-War dependence solely on the ground stated. Pre-War dependence, which determines the amount of pension, is the ascertained net amount for which the parent was personally dependent on the deceased son before enlistment. In determining a claim to such dependence the husband's earnings would necessarily be of importance as evidence. If the hon. Member is in doubt about the case referred to and will communicate particulars to me, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been erected, or sanctioned to be erected, by any public utility societies or similar bodies for which Government financial assistance is guaranteed under the Housing Acts of 1919 and 1923 in the County of London?

424 houses have been erected in the County of London by public utility societies or similar bodies with financial assistance from Exchequer funds under the Act of 1919. Proposals from such societies for building with subsidy under the Act of 1923 would be submitted in the ordinary course to the London County Council, and I have no information of any case where subsidy has been promised for building within the county.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated cost of the develop- ment of the Church Field housing site, Wednesbury; the proportion contributed by the Ministry of Health; the number of men employed; the rate of wages paid; the recognised district rate of wages for the class of work involved; and whether those employed are in receipt of wages for wet time?

I understand that the estimated cost of developing this site is £6,300, including an item of £1,700 for levelling pit mounds. No direct contribution is being made by my Department towards the cost of this work, but I have agreed to recognise for subsidy under the Housing, etc., Act, 1924, 80 houses which the Corporation propose to erect on the site, and I understand that the Unemployment Grants Committee have agreed to contribute not more than 75 per cent, of the wages paid to unemployed persons for the work of levelling pit mounds. The Corporation estimated that the work of development and levelling would require the services of from 80 to 95 men during a period of from 6 to 9 months. I have no information on the points raised in the last three parts of the hon. Member's question.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the maximum weekly amounts granted to widows as out-relief by the guardians in the years 1918 to 1925, and each year, respectively;

(2) the maximum weekly amounts granted as out-relief to men under 70 years of age incapacitated by ill-health during the years 1919 to 1925, and each year, respectively?

The practice of Boards of Guardians as to fixing maximum amounts to be granted as out-relief necessarily varies in different parts of the country, and I regret that the information sought is not in my possession.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total acreage in respect of which local authorities in England were authorised to borrow £1,249,905 for the provision of cemeteries and burial grounds since 11th November, 1918?

I am sorry that this information cannot be given without a great deal of labour. I may inform my hon. Friend that in the year ended March last, £24,563 was sanctioned in loans for the acquisition of 170 acres of land for cemeteries and burial grounds.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the cost per school place of building elementary and secondary schools respectively in 1913, 1922, and 1923; and whether he has asked the Committee of experts to inquire into all alternative materials, including steel and cast-iron?

In 1913, the average cost per place in elementary schools was about £13, and in secondary schools about £50. Since the War, building costs have shown such wide variations and have been so largely dependent upon special local factors, that I do not think that I could give any reliable figures for the years in question. Roughly speaking, the present average cost per place, exclusive of site and furniture, is about double the pre-War figure in the case of secondary schools, and rather more than double in the case of elementary schools. As regards the second part of the question, the terms of reference to the Committee cover the use of new materials and methods of construction, and I understand that the use of steel and cast-iron is being considered by them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the British Chamber of Commerce in Hankow has discussed the question of granting a loan to General Wu Pei-fu; what their decision was; whether any other British commercial body or trading company in China has decided to give financial support to Wu Pei-fu; and whether, in view of Article 75 of the China, Order in Council, 1925, which declares it a criminal offence for any British subject to aid or abet any person in carrying on war, insurrection, or rebellion against the Government of China, or to take part in any operation of war in the service of the Government of China against persons engaged in war, insurrection, or rebellion against such Government, he proposes to prevent such loans?

No report has been received as to an intention on the part of the Hankow Chamber of Commerce, or any other British body or firm to grant a loan to Marshal Wu Pei-fu. I am glad to take this opportunity of reminding the right hon. Gentleman that the policy of His Majesty's Government in China is one of non-intervention. Notwithstanding malicious and irresponsible reports to the contrary, no financial or other support has been extended to any Chinese party, or individual leader, and I have no reason to believe that British firms have entered into transactions which conflict with this policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is entering into diplomatic relations with Marshal Chang Tso-lin or any of the other heads of the rival factions at Peking, on the ground that such persons represent the de facto Government?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Mr. William Spalding, a British subject visiting Austria, was on the 22nd May visited by Income Tax collectors at his hotel in Vienna; that his luggage was searched in spite of protests and the sum of £150 impounded for taxes; and what action has been taken by the British Consul at Vienna in this regard?

I have received no information regarding the incident in question, but am asking His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Vienna for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the exposé of the proposals, declarations, and suggestions made at the Sixth Assembly and at the Council, with a view to the pacific settlement of disputes, which has been prepared by the legal section of the League of Nations Secretariat, in pursuance of the Council's resolution of 12th December, 1925; whether, at the meeting of the Council now being held, His Majesty's Government will urge that, since those proposals, declarations, and suggestions do not fulfil the demand made by the Sixth Asembly for the thorough study of the views which have been expressed in the Assembly and the Council on the subject of pacific settlement of disputes, the Secretary-General shall be invited to prepare a supplementary document embodying the proposals made at meetings of the Assembly other than the Sixth, and that a special commitee shall be set up to draw up a draft convention, or make some equally concrete proposals based on the two exposés?

As the right hon. Gentleman is no doubt aware, the Council, at its March session, decided that the question demanded careful examination, and they accordingly appointed a committee to prepare a draft report from the Council to the Assembly which could serve as a basis for discussion at the June session of the Council. The draft report of the committee has not yet been received in London and it has consequently not been possible to issue definite instructions to the British representative, whose attitude will depend largely on the nature of the committee s proposals and the general sense of the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether sentences under the Detention Camp Ordinance in Kenya Colony have to be confirmed by the High Court?

The Secretary of State would refer the hon. Member to Section 6 of the Ordinance a copy of which has already been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any deten- tion camps and, if so, how many have been opened under the Detention Camps Ordinance recently passed in Kenya Colony?

The Secretary of State has no information, but the Governor has already been asked to furnish a report on the working of the Ordinance when it has been in operation for a reasonable time.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will furnish a complete return of all persons connected with the Irish Land Trust, showing which of them served in the Forces during the great War and in what capacity; their qualifications for the positions they now hold; and the amount of their remuneration from all Government sources?

The total male staff employed by the Trust in the offices m London and Dublin consists of 35 men, of whom 28 served in His Majesty's Forces during the War; their total remuneration in respect of their employment under the Trust amounts to £10,850 per annum. I understand that three are in receipt of a Civil Service pension, and that others are in receipt of pensions in respect of War service. In addition to the above, 25 men are employed as rent-collectors on a percentage basis, of whom 23 are ex-service men.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will state how many ex-service men have been discharged or otherwise dismissed from the service of the Irish Land Trust during the period 1st July, 1925; to 31st March, 1926, both dates inclusive; how many non-service men have been appointed in the same period; and if he will give an undertaking that the services of no further ex-service men be dispensed with pending the publication of the Report of the inquiry asked for?

I understand that three ex-service men have been discharged for various reasons during the period in question and two ex-service men and two non-service men have been appointed during the same period. I am informed that it is the settled policy of the Trust to employ ex-service men whenever possible, but the ton. Member will appreciate that where technical skill and experience are required it is not always possible to find an ex-service man with the necessary qualifications. As regards the suggested inquiry I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty his decision regarding a local request of the sick-berth staff in the welfare conference of 1924, which asked for the sub-watch leave to be changed from 8.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., in order to bring this privilege in line with that of other large home hospitals?

If the hon. and gallant Member will let me know to which request he refers, I will endeavour to reply to his question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that, as a large percentage of the lower deck are now serving at sea, the number maintained at home ports, being at minimum, cannot be said to represent the views of the whole of the lower deck in drawing up welfare requests, which if adopted would affect the whole Service, steps can be taken by which meetings of representatives may be called in the various Fleets and their co-ordinated opinions forwarded to the Admiralty with those of the port representatives?

The number of ratings eligible to vote at elections of representatives is considerable, and as all men get their turns of home service it is reasonable to accept the coordinated opinions of the representatives elected at the home ports as representing the views of the whole of the lower deck. The proposal to obtain the co-ordinated opinions of representatives of sea-going fleets is impracticable.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the sum of 1s. 5½d. a day victualling allowance provided in Vote 11, Subhead C, of the Naval Estimates for each naval rating is fully expended in the case of those ratings who are compulsorily messed under the general messing system; if not, how the surplus is disposed of; and, in the event of the expenditure exceeding 1s. 5½d. a hi ad per day, how such excess is made up?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply of the 5th May to a similar question asked by him—[OFFICIAL REPORT, Col. 283]. As then stated, victualling allowance does not apply to ratings messed on the general mess system, and therefore the question of an over or under expenditure does not arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he has any information as to the fund raised for the benefit of the relatives of the men lost in His Majesty's Submarine Ml; and whether any statement has been issued showing how the money received was disbursed?

It is understood that the fund is being administered by the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust. I have no information as to the second part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, seeing that the Admiralty has been asked to grant some concession in the cases of established men asked to serve abroad under the Admiralty and who have to renounce all title to benefits under the National Health Insurance Act, even if they may never have had any benefit from the scheme and who, on return to this country, have to wait a period of 52 weeks before being entitled to half benefits and 104 weeks before being entitled to full benefits, and seeing that a new situation in connection with this matter has arisen owing to the new Pensions Act, he will give further consideration to it?

I have been asked to reply. The position of these men under the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Acts was discussed when the latter was in Committee. In accordance with the promise I then made I am giving special consideration to it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government will take steps to obtain the extension to vessels other than capital ships of the Washington Treaty on the Limitation of Armaments?

The Preparatory Commission of the Disarmament Conference is now sitting at Geneva, and is specially charged with the duty of investigating the best way in which the problem of further restricting land, sea and air armaments should be approached. Pending the result of this Preparatory Commission's work, His Majesty's Government are unable to say whether the further limitation of naval armaments will be by an extension of the principles adopted at Washington or by other means.

asked the Secretary, of State for Air at what date the Royal Air Force display is to take place; what type of flying is to be shown; and whether any new features are to be introduced?

The Royal Air Force display will take place at Hendon on the 3rd July. It will, as hitherto, be fully representative of the different aspects of the work of the Royal Air Force, and will consist primarily of demonstrations of collective and individual training and exhibitions of flying by the winning teams in the Service competitions. It is hoped to include several new features in the programme. There will, as last year, be a special House of Commons enclosure, and I hope as many Members as possible will attend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that applicants for relief at the Middlesbrough Employment Exchange are being asked to sign a form stating that they did not come out on strike at the call of their union in the week commencing 4th May; whether this is being issued under his authority; and for how long he proposes to discontinue the benefit of men who were implicated in the general strike?

As regards the first part of this question, I am having inquiries made, and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible. The point raised in the last part of the question is a matter for determination by the statutory authorities. The insurance officer has decided that, in general, persons who withdrew their labour under the general strike are disqualified for benefit until there is a general resumption of work at the establishment at which they were employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that members of the Russian Soviet Government have Ly openly published declarations supported one of the parties to the general strike and the present mining dispute; and whether he will make representations to that Government against such interference with the internal affairs of this country?

I am not aware of any such declarations by members of the Soviet Government, though, as mentioned in the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hitchin (Major Kindersley) on the 19th of May, statements of the kind have been made by other persons holding official positions in Moscow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the dates of issue of the various War Loans, the nominal amount of each issue, the price of each issue, and the rate of interest?

The following statement gives the particulars desired for loans issued in this country during the War period. It will be understood that a very large part of this debt does not now exist in the form in which it was originally raised, having been either repaid or converted into other forms of debt. It is not possible to give information in the form desired for Treasury

Bills, War Savings Certificates, War Expenditure Certificates and loans raised abroad, but information as to the amounts received under these heads was given in a reply which I made to a question by the hon. Member for Peckham on the 26th May, 1925:

asked the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, as representing the Lord President of the Council, on what dates the appointments of the Crown nominees to the General Medical Council lapse; and whether he can undertake that they will then be filled by non-professional persons?

The dates of expiry of the terms of office of the Crown nominees, other than that of my right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich (Mr. Hilton Young), recently appointed, on the General Medical Council are as follows:

Sir Edward Coey Bigger, 23rd January, 1927.

Sir Nestor Tirard, 2nd March, 1927.

Sir William Leslie Mackenzie, 27th October, 1927.

Sir George Newman, 8th October, 1929.

It is not possible to say in advance what action the Lord President of the day may see fit to take when the occasion arises for filling these vacancies.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that retailers are, in certain parts of the country, charging 3s. 9d. and 4s. a cwt. for coal, and that in other districts they are refusing to deliver half-cwts. of coal; and if, in view of these exactions and failure to deliver coal, he will, under the Emergency Powers Regulations, fix the price of coal at that ruling on 30th April and authorise local authorities to commandeer coal for the supply of working-class families with fuel at a price not in excess of the normal?

I stall be obliged if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any cases that have been brought to his notice, with the names and addresses of the retailers concerned, so that I may have inquiries made into them, before considering the drastic action that he suggests.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the latest figures showing the output per shift in Russian mines and the wages cost per ton of coal produced?

The output of coal in the Donetz coalfield was about 6 or 7 cwts. per person per day in the period October, 1925, to March, 1926. In the period July to September, 1925 (the latest for which information is available), the wages cost was between 10s. 6d. and 11s. a ton.

also asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give figures showing the comparative' rates of wages of British and Russian coal miners, after making allowance for the fact that the latter receive rent-free houses, free house coal, light, and water, together with annual holidays without loss of wages?

Information is not available which would enable me to attempt to give the comparative figures suggested: in any case I hardly think it would be possible to put an exact value on such allowances, many of which are enjoyed by British miners also.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any proposals for the reorganisation of the coal mining industry that could be put into operation before the question of a reduction in wages is considered; and, if so, what is the nature of the proposals?

The considered judgment of the Royal Commission as expressed in the words of the Report was that to bring any of the measures of reorganisation suggested by them into effect must need a period of months; to bring all of them into full operation must need years; that meantime the hard economic conditions of the moment remained to be faced, and that a disaster was impending over the industry that could only be averted by an immediate reduction of working costs by means of lower wages or longer hours. I regret that I can find no grounds for dissenting from this conclusion; nor have I heard any alternative proposal for meeting the immediate situation except that the taxpayer should resume the burden of maintaining the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the price per cwt. of white sugar in the British market, and the amount of subsidy per cwt. paid by the British taxpayer?

The price of white sugar in the British market fluctuates, but I am informed that for white granulated sugar the present price is about 26s. 6d. to 29s. per owt. The amount of subsidy per cwt. paid by the British taxpayer varies according to the polarisation of the sugar produced, as set out in the first schedule to the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1926. The rate of subsidy on white sugar of 98° polarisation is at present 19s. 6d. per cwt. Home-produced sugar of this polarisation bears an excise duty of 7s. 4⅔d.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, if the sugar-beet industry is to develop much further, more building will have to be undertaken and more converting machinery put into operation; and whether, to simplify this process, he will take into consideration the desirability of recommending those interested to make installations of machinery to produce raw sugar only and to leave all the subsequent refining process to the existing factories?

I appreciate that further development of the beet-sugar industry would demand the construction of factories additional to those at present in existence or under construction. I am not, however, prepared to accept the view that the making of raw sugar with subsequent refining is a simpler process than the production of white sugar by a continuous process. This is a matter which Parliament decided should be left entirely to the discretion of those under taking the responsibility of investing capital in beet-sugar factories.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the requests now appearing for the continuance of the sugar-beet subsidy after the proposed term of years has elapsed; and whether he proposes to make it quite clear to the industry concerned that in the interests of the taxpayer there will be no extension whatever of the kind suggested?

I am not aware of any requests having appeared for the continuance of the beet-sugar subsidy after the 10 years period prescribed in the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, has elapsed. I am informed that no such request has emanated from or has even been considered by the responsible leaders in the industry. The hon. Member will not expect me to take an action based upon an assumption which cannot be substantiated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received any representations urging that the Ministry should make general regulations for sheep dipping; and, if so, the attitude of the Government towards this question?

I have received various representations on the question of the general Regulations for the dipping of sheep in connection with the control and eradication of sheep scab. This matter is being considered by my Department at the present moment, and I hope shortly to be in a position to announce a decision.

also asked the Minister of Agriculture the compensation paid to farmers in respect of foot-and-mouth disease in each of the last five years?

The following sums have been paid to farmers as compensation for animals slaughtered on account of foot-and-mouth disease in the last five years:

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, and Denmark during each of the last five years?

The following statement shows the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the under-mentioned countries during the years 1921–1925: